Vending machine



Jan. 4,1927. i 1,613,244

vW. H. MURPHY vENDlNG MAGH'INE M Filed gun@ 9, 192e 2 sheets-sheet I ,W 1 /y @1F- Patented Jan. 4, 1927o Uhllvllha@ WILLIAM MURPHY, 0F M'ILWAUKEE, WSGONSN.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application led June 9,

This invention relates to vending machines.

Objects of this invention are to provide a vending machine which is coin controlled, which is provided with an automaton having a projecting portion adapted to receive the coin, and when holding the coin, adapted to automatically move and to discharge the coin, and also project an article outwardly from the receiving or storage hopper or chute.

Further objects are to provide an automaton which may be the figure of a base ball player provided with a projecting bat into which the coin falls, and to provide automatic means of an electromagnetic nature controlled by the coin iand energizing the automaton, thus causing it to strike a ball with the bat in a quick life-like manner. j

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a section on a line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detailed enlarged view of a fragment of the bat carried by the automaton, such view being partly in section.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on a line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure. 6 is a sectional view on a line 6 6 of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a casing whose lower portion 1 may be of a box like nature and may contain the hidden mechanism. The upper portion 2 of the casing is preferably removably carried by the lower portion and is formed of glassor other transparent material.

In the drawings, one form of the invention has been shown, for example, a device adapted to vend cylindrical articles such as packages of candy, cigars, cigarettes or other articles.

Wfithin the upper or transparent portion of the casing is an automaton 3 in the form of a base ball player standing ready to strike with a projecting bat 4. This base ball player is mounted upon a revolving disk or platform 5 which is carried by a vertical spindle 6. The lower end of the spindle is carried within a bearing 7 of a bracket se- 1926. Serial No. 114,872.

cured to the machine. lThe spindle r6 continues through the lower bearing and receives one end of a spiral spring 8, the other end of such spring bearing against a finge-r 9 carried by the bracket..

An electromagnet 10 is carried within the bottom casing 1 and is provided with a mov'- able armature 11 which may be inthe form of an elongated lever. The lower end of this lever is pivoted as indicated at 12, "and the upper end is provided with a cord or 'flexible member 13 which is wrapped about the spindle 6. ThusA when the magnet is energized, the armature is drawn to the right in Figure 1 and the automaton is rotated quickly to swing the bat 4 in a. life-like manner into contact with a ball 14 carried by a resilient or yielding support 15. This blow against the ball causes the ball to vibrate back and forth.

Further, the electromagnet causes one of the articles 16 carried within the storage or article holding chute 17 to be discharged. The mechanism for accomplishing this function consists of a plunger 18 loosely pivoted to the upper end of the armature 11 of the magnet, and provided with a forwardly projecting portion passing through a slot in the upper end of the chute 17. ln fact, if itis desired, the chute 17 may stop at the plunger 18 or else, as stated, a slot may be formed through such chute. In all events, the article is projected from the chute into a discharge passageway or duct 19 which leads to a container 2O adapted to temporarily hold the article until removed by the purchaser. The articles 16 are held against the upper portion 21 of the lower casing 1 by means of an upwardlyurged transverse bar 22 positioned beneath the articles 16 and eX- tending beyond the side edges of the chute 17. This bar or follower 22 is connected by means of cords 23 to a weight 24, such cords being guided over pulleys 25 and 26, see Figures 1 and 2. Thus the articles are kept in a stacked formation with the uppermost one bearin against the cover 21 4of the lower casingg?. Means for controlling the electromagnet 10, and consequently the operation of the machine, consists of Va pair of. contacts 27 and 26 carried within the bat 4 of the automaton, as most clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, although indicated in Figure 1. The contact 27 is stationary and is positioned at one side of the slot 29 for the reception of the coin 30. The other contact Vinv the upper casing 2.

is in reality a movable plunger with a stepped portion as indicated at 31 in Figure 4. This plunger or contact 23 is pressed by means of the leaf spring 32, see Figure 4f, into the position indicated in such figure. Conductors 33 lead from the contacts through the bat downwardly through the body of the automaton through the shalt 6 to slipings 34 mounted upon the spindle or shaft 6. These slipings are engaged by brushes 35 which connect one of them to one side of the magnet 10and the other to a battery or other source ot electrical supply indicated in 36. The other side ot the electromagnet and battery are joined by the conductor 37 as shown in Figure 1.

The coin is led into the slot in the bat by means of the coin chute or guide 38 formed Y lt is to be noted that a linger or stop is carried by the coin guide 38 and arrested rearward motion of the bat with the coin slot 29 in the bat in exact alignment with the slot in the coin guide.

The operation of the apparatus is as tollows:

Assuming the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1, a coin is dropped through the coin guide 38 and into the slot 29 in the bat as indicated in such figure. The coin closes circuit between the contacts 27 and 28. The latter contact, as stated, being in the nature of a plunger. This causes the magnet 10 to become energized. and thus draws the armature 11 towards the magnet. The motion of the armature causes the discharge of an article 16 into the receiving container 20 and also causes a quick rotation ofthe automaton. This motion oit the automaton causes the ball 14 to' be struck by the bat, such ball being in reality struck by the plunger 28. This striking ot the plunger against the ball moves the plunger rearwardly and thus dislodges the coin which has previously been resting upon the enlarged portion of the stepped plunger 28. The coin drops through the slot 29 in the bat upon the floor 21 of the upper compartment, such ioor being in reality the top or covering for the lower compartment. The fall of the coin from the bat opens the electric circuit and deenergizes the electromagnet, thus allowing the parts to resume their initial positions. The ball 14 continues to vibrate for a short period thus giving a novel effect.

It is intended that these devices be placed in a conspicuous position so that the motion of the automaton as it swings the bat into contact with the ball will be very lifelike and startling and produce considerable interest in this novel vending machine.

lt will be seen that a novel form of vendingV machine has been provided which will successively discharge articles therefrom, and which will, in addition, cause an automaton to execute a novel movement.

lt desired, the cover 21 for the lower casing may be hinged as indicated in Figure 2 to permit ready iilling ot the chute 17.

Any desired form of locks may be employed for temporarily locking the parts in closed position, such locks havingA been omitted for the sake of clearness..

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative rather than limit-ing as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim: Y

1. A device of the class described com prising a casing having an article holding chute, an electromagnet having a movable armature, means actuated by said armature t'or discharging an article from said chute, a movably mounted figure carried by said casing and having a projecting coin receiving portion and having a pair of contacts adapted to be bridged by the coin, a source ot electrical energy', means connecting said electromagnet, source and contacts whereby said electromagnet is energized when said contacts are bridged by a coin, mechanism operatively connecting said armature and said ligure to transmit motion to said figure, and means tor discharging the coin after said figure has moved.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an article holding chute, a discharge passageway leading outwardly from adjacent said chute, a plunger for discharging an article from said chute into said passageway, a figure of a baseball player having an extended bat provided with a coin receiving slot in the bat, said bat having a stationary contact and a movable contact actuated to temporarily support a coin in said slot and discharge the coin when the latter contact is moved, a spindle revolubly supporting said ligure, a ball located in the path of movement of said bat and adapted to move the movable contact when struck upon rotation of the ligure, an electromagnet having a movable armature operatively coupled to said plunger and spindle, a source of electrical energy, and conductors connecting said source, contacts and electromagnet.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Visconsin.

WILLIAM H. MURPHY. 

